[Video] This C63 AMG Superstar racer will make your organs vibrate | GRR
The Superstars International Series did not last long. It started in 2004 with eight cars, at its height it had over 30 cars and the likes of Johnny Herbert, Gianni Morbidelli and Tonio Liuzzi driving, and it was dead by 2014. You would be forgiven for missing it.
It was a strange halfway house between GT racing and touring cars. The cars were rapid, covered in big wings and fat bodykits (that’s fat, not phat) and were all powered by mighty V8 engines, but the body styles ranged from a BMW 3 Series to a Porsche Panamera.
They looked sort of odd, but at the same time, sort of cool. And then you heard how they sounded. They all had big V8s – smallest engine was a 4.0-litre BMW unit. And were designed to sound, for want of a more sophisticated word, proper.
Some of the cars are still being driven in anger on track days today, including this particular Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Like all Superstars cars it looks very much like a C-Class that’s been on the ‘roids. It has a humungous wing, massive flared arches and a chin only mother could love. But under that bonnet is a mighty 6.2-litre V8, producing 550PS. And you can hear every single one of those 550 horses straining to exit the Mere as fast as it can.
It doesn’t have quite the same explosive downshifts as the BMW Z4 GT3 we shared with you the other week. But instead it has an insistent grumble the sounds dirty at best and downright filthy at worst. Plus close up you can hear the whine of its transmission, no doubt bitterly complaining about handling whatever mighty torque figure 6,200ccs of Mercedes V8 puts out. If only we could have a go.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: The best motorcycles at FOS 2019